Inauguration of President Susan M. Donovan

The Bellarmine community observed the inauguration of the university’s fourth president, Dr. Susan M. Donovan, with a week of service and celebration. Dr. Donovan began the week by sorting canned goods for Dare to Care with students on the morning of Oct. 23 and ended it by dancing at Knight of Knights, the university’s annual black-tie event to thank donors, on Oct. 28. In between, she mingled with undergraduate and graduate students, faculty and alumni; played host to NPR’s Ari Shapiro at the Guarnaschelli Lecture; and helped to deliver blankets to hospitalized children and serve meals at a shelter along with students, faculty and staff. The official Inauguration ceremony in Knights Hall on Oct. 27 was a solemn and colorful affair, with a procession of scholars representing Bellarmine, alumni, and representatives from 20 other colleges, universities and associations.

FRANCISCAN KITCHEN
Administrative assistant Angela Rone, Dr. Susan Donovan, Dr. Helen-Grace Ryan, vice president for Student Affairs and other volunteers served 492 meals to the hungry and homeless at the Franciscan Kitchen on South Preston Street.

PIONEER SCHOLARS
The Pioneer Scholars, a group of first-generation students, created 123 blankets and pillows for patients at Norton Children’s Hospital downtown. Dr. Donovan was also among the first in her family to attend college.

DARE TO CARE
Dr. Donovan and students boxed a total of 496 pounds of canned goods and other non-perishable food items for Dare to Care, the Metro Louisville food bank.

Guarnaschelli Lecture

With the manipulation of websites increasing and the number of fact checkers decreasing, consumers must themselves strive to verify the news they read and share, NPR’s Ari Shapiro told a capacity Frazier Hall crowd in “Lessons from the Fake News Front Lines” on Oct. 25. The All Things Considered co-host also conducted a Q&A with students and attended a reception with Dr. Donovan and the Guarnaschellis. Click here for more on Ari Shapiro’s lecture.

Knight of Knights

At the annual black-tie event, Leah Mudd, right, president of the Student Government Association, and six other students surprised Dr. Donovan with a commemorative Coat of Arms created by local artist Bob Diehl.

MASS
Fr. Timothy Brown of Loyola University Maryland, who married Susan and Bill Donovan, delivered the homily during the morning Mass at St. Agnes Church. Archbishop Joseph Kurtz of Louisville (below right with Caitlin, Meghan, Bill and Susan Donovan) said the Eucharistic Prayer.

CEREMONY
Before Trustee Chair Bill Mudd presented Dr. Donovan with the Chain of Office and the University Mace, representatives of the students, staff, faculty and alumni wished her well, and Mayor Greg Fischer brought greetings from Metro Louisville. Professor Frederick Smock, Kentucky’s Poet Laureate, read Luminary, a poem he wrote for Dr. Donovan, and the Bellarmine Oratorio Society and University Singers performed To Music, a piece written in her honor by Professor Richard Burchard, Bellarmine’s Composer in Residence. Finally, the Rev. Brian Linnane, president of Loyola University Maryland, who served as a mentor to Dr. Donovan, gave remarks.